Broadwoodwidger
| Broadwoodwidger | |
| Devon | |
|---|---|
 St Nicholas' church, Broadwoodwidger | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SX410891 |
| Location: | 50°40’49"N, 4°15’7"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Lifton |
| Postcode: | PL16 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Torridge |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Torridge and West Devon |
Broadwoodwidger is a village in western Devon, just to the north of the A30 road, about thirteen miles west of Okehampton and eight miles east of Launceston in Cornwall. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 548.
There is a village green, phone box, bus shelter and post box. The parish had a small primary school three miles north of the village at Ivyhouse Cross, but it has now closed.
Roadford Lake, a reservoir with sailing and other leisure facilities, lies to the north-east of the village, and the River Wolf passes at the bottom of the hillside on which the village stands.
The name of the village means broad wood" with the additional of the name of Wyger family, who long owned the manor. It is first documented as Brod(e)wode Wyger in 1306. The manor here passed from the Vypund family to the Wygers before 1273. It was earlier known simply as Broad wood, for example it appears as Bradewode in the Domesday Book of 1086.[1]
Parish church
The parish church for Broadwoodwidger stands on top of the hill, with views to Brentor and surrounding countryside.
The church is 15th century, with some 13th century features such as the tower and chancel. There is also a Norman font, and benches with carvings of curious animals.
Broadwoodwidger was from 1876 to 1922 in the Diocese of Truro but was then returned to the Diocese of Exeter.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Broadwoodwidger) |
References
- ↑ Watts, Victor (2010). The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-names (1st paperback ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-521-16855-7.